Film laminate with easy TD tear

ABSTRACT

A transversely tearable film and pouches made therefrom are disclosed. The transversely tearable laminate comprises a machine direction oriented linear low density polyethylene film adhesively laminated on at least one side to a sealant film, the sealant film having an Elmendorf tear in the machine direction of at least about 2 g/μm, and the selection of said oriented film and said sealant film being made on the basis that: 
     
         K.X&gt;(1-Y), 
    
     wherein 
     K is an empirically determined factor which depends of the properties of the oriented film and the sealant film, 
     X is the thickness of all layers of sealant film in micrometers, 
     
         Y=(MD.sub.c)/(TD.sub.c) 
    
     MD c  is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the machine direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams, and 
     TD c  is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the transverse direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 07/445,774, filed Dec. 4, 1989 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,091,241.

The invention relates to film laminates suitable for making pouches filled with flowable materials, e.g. liquids.

It is well known to package flowable materials in pouches or sachets. For example, milk, pie fillings and other comestibles have been packaged on so-called vertical form and fill machines. Using such a machine, a flat web of synthetic thermoplastic film is unwound from a roll and formed into a continuous tube in a tube forming section, by sealing thus longitudinal edges of the film together to form a so-called lap seal or a so-called fin seal. The tube thus formed is pulled vertically downwards to a filling station. The tube is then collapsed across a transverse cross-section of the tube, the position of the cross-section being at a sealing device below the filling station. A transverse heat seal is made, by the sealing device, at the collapsed portion of the tube, thus making an airtight seal across the tube. The sealing device generally comprises a pair of jaws, with heat sealing element mounted on one of the jaws. After making the transverse seal, the flowable material is allowed to enter the tube, at the filling station, and fill the tube upwardly from the aforementioned transverse seal. The tube is then allowed to drop, or is fed, a predetermined distance under the influence of the weight of the material in the tube. The jaws of the sealing device are closed again, thus collapsing the tube at a second transverse section. The sealing device seals and severs the tube transversely at the second transverse section. The material-filled portion of the tube is now in the form of a pillow shaped pouch. Thus the sealing device, as sealed the top of the filled pouch, sealed the bottom of the next-to-be formed pouch, all in one operation. One such vertical form and fill machine of the type described above is sold under the trade mark PREPAC.

Many sachets are made from two webs of synthetic thermoplastic film. The two webs are brought into face to face contact with the longitudinal edges in register. The longitudinal edges are then heat sealed to form longitudinal fin seals. The two webs are then in tubular form and may be filled and sealed in much the same manner as the pouches described hereinabove. The webs may be made from single ply films, e.g. polyethylene film, or film composites, e.g. polyethylene/paper or polyethylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer/ nylon. The sachets so formed appear to have a front and a back wall, which are sealed around their periphery, i.e. have a circumferential edge seal.

For many years, milk has been packaged in pouches made on vertical form and fill machines. Milk, in pouches has been sold to household consumers and, in use, such milk-filled pouches are stood within an open-mouthed pitcher. Conveniently, an upper corner of the pouch is snipped off with scissors or a partially sheathed blade and the snipped-off corner disposed of. More recently, such pouches have been used to package other flowable comestibles, e.g. mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, preserves and the like. Pouches containing such comestibles are usually sold to "institutional" buyers, e.g. restaurants. For such buyers it is preferred to have an "easy-open" feature on the pouches. It is further preferred not to snip off a corner of the pouch because of the possibility of the snipped-off corner contaminating food. Additionally, flowable materials, e.g. mustard, sugar, have been packaged in sachets. In order to open such sachets without the necessity for scissors, knives or the like, many such sachets have a nick or slit in the edge seal which forms an initiation point for tearing open the sachet by hand with ease.

Webs which tear more easily in the transverse direction than in the machine direction are highly desirable for so-called easy-open pouches, or sachets. For many end uses, polyethylene films would be preferred, primarily for cost reasons. However, it appears that most polyethylene films, and laminates or coextrusions consisting essentially of polyethylene have, heretofore, been developed for impact and tear resistance rather than for ease of tearing in the transverse direction.

A. A. Ritchie Canadian Pat. No. 764 942, which was issued Aug. 8, 1967 discloses the lamination of two monoaxially oriented thermoplastic films, with the directions of orientation essentially at right angles to one another. Such a laminate is disclosed as having improved resistance to tear. Ethylene/butene copolymer film, stretched 4.5 times in the machine direction, is exemplified.

American Can Co. U.S. Pat. No. 4 228 215, which was issued Oct. 14, 1980 discloses a laminated film comprising a uniaxially oriented base film and a substantially unoriented heat-sealing film. The base film, about 12-63 μm in thickness, is selected from high density polyethylene, low density ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene/ vinyl alcohol copolymer or polyamide resin The heat-sealing film is produced from copolymer of ethylene/acrylic acid, polyvinylchloride resin or polyvinylidene chloride resin. A curable adhesive of polyurethane-polyester is used for the laminating process. The film has a thickness ratio of heat seal film to base film of 0.5-1.5:1.0 and is biaxially tearable.

W. F. Briggs and E. M. Bullard U.S. Pat. No. 4 399 180, which was issued Aug. 16, 1983 discloses a laminar thermoplastic film consisting of at least two layers, one of which is a low density polyethylene and the other is a linear low density polyethylene, such layers being bonded throughout their interface. It is indicated that such laminate is suitable for use as a stretch-wrap film, which shows improved resistance to tear in both the machine and transverse directions.

W. J. Clayton U.S. Pat. No. 4 160 053, which was issued Jul. 3, 1979 discloses a laminate suitable for making heavy duty bags, comprising low density polyethylene films blocked together at 80-100° C. and below the fusion temperature of the polyethylene. The films have a plus-or-minus 15 degrees of orientation. The films have a density of 0.915-0.925 g/cm³, a melt index of 0.2-0.26 dg/min and a thickness of 50-75 μm. The laminater is indicated as exhibiting greater impact and tear resistance than laminates of similar film formed by a fusion lamination process.

J. H. Shoenberg U.S. Pat. No. 4 551 380, which was issued Nov. 5, 1985 discloses a film comprising a) a crosslinked core layer consisting of a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and b) two crosslinked surface layers, each consisting of a blend of LLDPE, linear medium density polyethylene and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer. The film has a high degree of orientation, e.g. draw ration of 3.0-6.0 in longitudinal and transverse directions. The laminate is indicated as having good puncture and tear resistance.

Japanese Kokai 61(1986)-167550 to Sakai et al., published Jul. 29, 1986 discloses packages made from a composite film of a substrate sheet, e.g. aluminum foil or paper, adhesively bonded to a 10--100 μm uniaxially oriented polyethylene film having a density of less than 0.94 g/cm³ stretched in the longitudinal or transverse directions from 6 to 20 times. The sealant layer of the composite is the oriented polyethylene film and the easy tear direction is indicated as being in the direction of stretch of the film.

Du Pont Canada, Inc. supplies a packaging machine which is adapted to make an easy open pouch wherein adjacent to a transverse end heat seal is situated a small compartment at the corner of the pouch. The small compartment has a tear initiating location, e.g. a slit, therein. The pouch may be made, for example, of a film composite comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer layer, an oriented or unoriented nylon layer, an oriented polypropylene film or an oriented polyester film sandwiched between two sealant layers.

As used hereinafter, and in the claims, the term "pouch" includes the term "sachet".

Surprisingly, it has been found that by combining film layers which, individually, tear more easily in the machine direction, a multi-ply laminate can be formed, and a pouch made therefrom, which tears more easily in the transverse direction.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a transversely tearable laminate comprising a machine direction oriented linear low density polyethylene film adhesively laminated on at least one side to a sealant film, the sealant film having an Elmendorf tear in the machine direction of at least about 2 g/μm, and the selection of said oriented film and said sealant film being made on the basis that:

    K.X>(1-Y),

wherein

K is an empirically determined factor which depends on the properties of the oriented film and the sealant film,

X is the thickness of all layers of sealant film in micrometers,

    Y=(MD.sub.c /(TD.sub.c)

MD_(c) is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the machine direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams, and

TD_(c) is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the transverse direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams.

In one embodiment the oriented film is made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of at least one ethylene/C₄ -C₁₀ α-olefin copolymer having a density of from 0.900 to 0.940 g/cm³ and blends of such copolymer with a second polymer, selected from a homopolymer of ethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, said second polymer having a density of from 0.910 to 0.940 g/cm³, said blend having up to 70 wt. % of said second polymer.

In another embodiment the oriented film is made from an ethylene/C₆ -C₁₀ α-olefin copolymer, especially an ethylene/C₆ -C₈ α-olefin copolymer.

In a further embodiment the oriented film is made from an ethylene/octene-1 copolymer.

In another embodiment the oriented film has a density of from 0.916 to 0.924 g/cm³.

In another embodiment the oriented film has been oriented in the machine direction at a draw ratio of from 1.5 to 6.5. Especially preferred is a draw ratio of from 4.0 to 5.0.

In a further embodiment the sealant film is made from a polyethylene resin selected from a linear copolymer of ethylene and a C₆ -C₁₀ α-olefin, especially a C₆ -C₈ α-olefin, having a density of from 0.916 to 0.924 g/cm³ and blends of said copolymer with up to about 70 wt. % of another ethylene polymer, i.e. a homopolymer or copolymer, having a density of from 0.915 to 0.925 g/cm³.

In further embodiments the sealant film is made from resin selected from an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer, an ionomeric polymer and blends thereof with a polyethylene.

In yet another embodiment the sealant film is a blown film.

In another embodiment at least one of the films in the laminate is metallized or coated with a barrier coating. Preferred barrier coatings are selected from polyvinylidene chloride and ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer coatings.

The present invention further provides a pouch containing a flowable material, said pouch having transversely sealed ends, having a tear initiation locus adjacent at least one of the transversely sealed ends, said pouch being made with a transversely tearable film laminate, said film laminate comprising a machine direction oriented linear low density polyethylene film laminated on at least one side to a sealant film, the sealant film having an Elmendorf tear in the machine direction of at least about 2 g/μm, and the selection of said oriented film and said sealant film being made on the basis that:

    K.X>(1-Y),

wherein

K is an empirically determined factor which depends on the properties of the oriented film and the sealant film,

X is the thickness of all layers of sealant film in micrometers,

    Y=(MD.sub.c)/(TD.sub.c)

MD_(c) is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the machine direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams, and

TD_(c) is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the transverse direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams.

In one embodiment the oriented film is made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of at least one ethylene/C₄ -C₁₀ α-olefin copolymer having a density of from 0.900 to 0.940 g/cm³ and blends of such copolymer with a second polymer, selected from a homopolymer of ethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, said second polymer having a density of from 0.910 to 0.940 g/cm³, said blend having up to 70 wt. % of said second polymer.

In one embodiment the pouch is made from a single web of film, heat-sealed longitudinally along the longitudinal edges of the web.

In another embodiment the pouch is made from two webs, at least one of which is the transversely tearable laminate.

In a further embodiment the sealant film is a polyethylene resin selected from a linear copolymer of ethylene and a C₆ -C₁₀ α-olefin, especially a C₆ -C₈ α-olefin, having a density of from 0.916 to 0.924 g/cm³ and blends of said copolymer with up to about 70 wt. % of another ethylene polymer, i e. a homopolymer or copolymer, having a density of from 0.915 to 0.925 g/cm³.

In further embodiments the sealant film is made from resin selected from an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, an ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer, an ionomeric polymer and blends thereof with a polyethylene.

In another embodiment the oriented film has a density of from 0.916 to 0.924 g/cm³.

In a further embodiment the sealant film is a polyethylene resin selected from a linear copolymer of ethylene and a C₆ -C₁₀ α-olefin, especially a C₆ -C₈ α-olefin, having a density of from 0.916 to 0.924 g/cm³ and blends of said copolymer with up to about 70 wt. % of another ethylene polymer, i.e. a homopolymer or copolymer, having a density of from 0.915 to 0.925 g/cm³.

In yet another embodiment the sealant film is a blown film.

In another embodiment at least one of the films in the laminate is metallized or coated with a barrier coating. Preferred barrier coatings are selected from polyvinylidene chloride and ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer coatings.

In a further embodiment the tear initiation locus is selected from a slit, a perforation, a nick and a thinning in the laminate and a tear tape applied to the laminate

In yet another embodiment the pouch has a heat-sealed area at or adjacent to one of the transverse seals at a corner of said pouch, said heat-sealed area joining the so-called front and back walls of said pouch and having a slit or perforation therein extending from the free edge of the heatsealed area.

In yet another embodiment the pouch has a small compartment adjacent one of the transverse heat seals, and separated from the portion of the pouch containing the flowable material by a heat seal which joins the so-called front and back walls of said pouch, said compartment having therein a slit or perforation substantially parallel to said transverse heat seal.

In a further embodiment the pouch is a sachet having both webs of the transversely tearable laminate heat sealed transversely at both ends and at both sides of the sachet, and having a slit, perforation or nick in at least one of the side seals.

Density of the ethylene polymers is determined using ASTM Procedure D 1505-68. Elmendorf tear strength is determined using ASTM Procedure D 1922. Percent elongation at break is determined using ASTM Procedure D-638.

For reasons of economy it is desirable that X, the total thickness of all layers of sealant film, be minimized. When X is minimized, then to satisfy the inequality K.X>(1-Y) both K and Y should be maximized.

Y is maximized by choosing an oriented film which has a substantially balanced Elmendorf tear strength. In practice this means that even though the machine direction tear strength MD_(c) is less than the transverse direction tear strength TD_(c), Y should be as high as possible. Y is easily calculated once the Elmendorf tear properties of the oriented film have been measured

K may be Maximized in one or both of two ways. The first is by choosing a sealant film which has a substantially balanced Elmendorf tear strength. In practice this means that even though the machine direction tear strength MD_(s) is less than the transverse direction tear strength TD_(s), MD_(s) /TD_(s) should be as high as possible. The second is to limit the stretchability of the laminate in the machine direction, so that the energy applied to tear the laminate remains well directed at the point of tear, i.e. in the transverse direction. Stretchability may be limited by bonding the oriented film to the sealant film(s) strongly and without substantial weak areas.

K is determined empirically. An oriented film and a type of sealant film are chosen, based upon a number of factors which relate the cost and performance of the laminate and its end use, e.g. its performance in a pouch. A series of laminates are then made from the oriented film and a number of different thicknesses of sealant film, i.e. different values for X. When there is no sealant film present, viz when X=0, the oriented film will tear more easily in the machine direction than in the transverse direction. If the thickness of sealant film(s) is/are increased sufficiently, the laminate will tear more easily and consistently in the transverse direction. The thickness at which there is a change in the tearing property of the laminate, from the machine direction to the transverse direction, X_(r), may then be used to calculate K, from the equation:

    K=(1-Y)/X.sub.r

The linear ethylene/α-olefin copolymers used in the manufacture of the oriented film may be made from ethylene and the α-olefin by a process disclosed in W. E. Baker, I. C. B. Saunders and J. M. Stewart Canadian Pat. No. 856 137 which was issued Nov. 7, 1970. Other processes may also be used to produce the linear ethylene/α-olefin copolymer. The preferred copolymer is ethylene/octene-1 copolymer. The second polymer, if linear, may also be manufactured using the same process. The second polymer may be made by any of the known processes for making the appropriate ethylene polymer. For example, ethylene homopolymer may be made by high pressure or low pressure processes and may be a linear polymer or otherwise.

The oriented film may be made by known machine direction orientation processes, in which the film is stretched in the machine direction at a temperature below the melting temperature of the film. The oriented film may first be made using the so-called blown film process, and then machine direction orienting the film directly thereafter or in a separate step. A blown film process is disclosed in E. D. Fuller Canadian Pat. No. 460 963 which was issued Nov. 8, 1949. In other blown film processes, the film may be made using an internal or external cooling mandrel as disclosed, for example, in M. Bunga and C. V. Thomas Canadian Pat. No. 893 216 which was issued Feb. 15, 1972. The blown film process, by itself, is insufficient to impart the required degree of machine direction orientation, and further stretching, at a temperature below the melting temperature of the film is required.

The machine direction orientation may be accomplished by stretching an essentially unoriented ethylene/C₄₋ C₁₀ α -olefin film between first and second pairs of orientation rolls. Preferably the ratio of the peripheral speed of the second of such rolls to that of the first of such rolls, sometimes referred to as the draw ratio, is from about 1.5 to about 6.5, especially from about 4.0 to 5.0. Although it is not essential, it is preferred that each orientation roll have a nip roll associated therewith, said nip rolls applying substantially uniform force across the width of such nip rolls onto the associated orientation roll. It is also preferred that the distance between the nip rolls be as small as possible. For example, a distance between nip rolls of from 100 to 2050 μm is preferred, and especially from 500 to 1500 μm. It is further preferred that the temperature of the orientation rolls be held at from 50° to 90° C. The optimum orientation temperature depends in part upon the density of the film being oriented. For example it is preferred to orient an ethylene/octene-1 film having a density of 0.920 g/cm³ at about 60° C., whereas it is preferred to orient a similar film having a density of 0.930 g/cm³ at 85° C. It is preferred that the nip rolls be placed as close to the minimum gap between the first and second orientation rolls as the diameters of the orientation and nip rolls will allow. Annealing of the film is desirable but not necessary.

The sealant film may be any thermoplastic polymeric film which can be heat sealed to itself and has an Elmendorf tear in the machine direction of at least about 2 g/μm. Preferably the Elmendorf tear in the machine direction is at least 8 g.μ. Typical sealant films are polyethylene films, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer films, ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer films, ethylene/methacrylic acid copolymer films and films of blends of polyethylene and such copolymers. A preferred sealant film is a blown film made from a polyethylene resin selected from a linear copolymer of ethylene and a C₆ -C₁₀ α-olefin, having a density of from 0.916 to 0.924 g/cm³ and blends of said copolymer with up to about 70 wt. % of another ethylene polymer, i.e. a homopolymer or copolymer, having a density of from 0.915 to 0.925 g/cm³. For example the sealant film may be formed from 97 to 88 wt. % ethylene/octene-1 copolymer blended with 3 to 12 wt. % ethylene/vinyl acetate.

The film composites useful in the present invention may be made by conventional techniques of adhesively laminating the sealant films to the first film. Examples of adhesives which may be used include urethane-based adhesives, for example ADCOTE 503H (™) and LAMAL 408-40 (™) urethane adhesives. Other adhesives include polyvinylidene chloride adhesives, e.g. SERFENE 2015 (™). The laminating adhesive and the laminating process must be sufficient to bond the layers of the laminate together so that they do not delaminate during the tearing process. This level of bonding may be determined by simple experimentation.

In the event that packaging of materials in the film laminate requires the use of a film having flavour, aroma, oxygen barrier properties or the like, either of the films of the laminate, i.e. the oriented film or the sealant film, may be coated with a suitable coating. For example, the oriented film may have thereon an aluminum coating, an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer coating, a polyvinylidene chloride coating or the like. Such coatings may be applied by known methods.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that additives, e.g. UV stabilizers, anti-block agents, slip additives, may be added to the polymers from which the films are made.

Known vertical form and fill machines may be used for forming a tube from a web of the film laminate used in the present invention, for forming the so-called back seam or side seam, the transverse heat seals and for severing the pouch from the tube. Known sachet forming machines may also be used for forming a tube from two webs, at least one of which is the transversely tearable laminate of the present invention, for forming the two sideseams, the transverse seals and for severing the sachet from the webs.

Although there are a number of ways in which to provide the heat-sealed area and slit, one way is described in more detail herein for a vertical form and fill machine, sometimes with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a filling tube and film diverter useful in the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the compartment sealing device, exaggerated in size with respect to the fill tube and pouch shown therein;

and FIG. 3 shows the top of one pouch and the bottom of an adjacently-formed pouch, each with the heat-seal and slit feature.

FIG. 4 shows a graph of Y and X from which K may be determined.

In FIG. 1, a web of the transversely tearable film laminate (which may hereinafter be referred to as the "film") has been folded using a film-folding mechanism (not shown) such that longitudinal edges of the film 11 overlap. The film 11, now in essentially tubular form, surrounds fill-tube 12 and tube-forming plate 13. Fill tube 12 may have a heat-seal backing plate 14 thereon for assisting in forming a heat-sealed back seam 15 with a vertical heat sealing jaw 16. It has been found that it is preferable to substantially equalize the lengths of the front wall 17 and back wall 18 of the film tube using film diverters 19 and 20, or similar.

Film diverters 19 and 20 may be made of metal and preferably have low-slip surfaces in contact with the film, e.g. have been coated with a non-stick finish.

Immediately after the film 11 passes the end of tube forming plate 13, the substantially flattened edge portion 21 of the tube passes between jaws 23and 24 of compartment sealing device 22, as shown in FIG. 2. Jaw 23 comprises an electrical impulse sealer 25, mounted on a water-cooled block26. A layer of polytetrafluoroethylene-coated glass fibre tape (not shown) separates the impulse sealer from the sealing jaw, as is known in the art.A pad of rubber or other flexible back-up material 27 is mounted on the face of jaw 24. The impulse sealer 25 and pad 27 may be prevented from sticking to the film by interposing layers of polytetrafluoroethylene-coated glass fibre tape. Located within jaw 24 is a knife blade 28 which is adapted to be moved from the position shown to aposition in cavity 29 in jaw 23.

In operation, the flattened edge portion 21 on film 11 is passed between jaws 23 and 24. Jaws 23 and 24 are closed, pressing the front and back walls 17 and 18 of the film between the impulse sealer 25 and pad 27. Knife blade 28 is then thrust through the edge portion 21 of film to form a slit. An electrical impulse, fed through electrical connections (not shown), heats the impulse sealer 25 sufficiently to seal the inner layers of sealant film together. In a preferred embodiment the shape of the impulse sealer (not shown) is such that a seal is formed which surrounds the slit.

The tubular film is then advanced, downwardly, past the lower end of fill tube 12 to a transverse impulse sealer. The transverse impulse sealer is constructed and operated as is known in the art and is used to heat seal and sever the tube transversely. After forming transverse seals 30, 31 as shown in FIG. 3, the upper tube 32 is filled with a known quantity of flowable material through fill tube 12. The flowable material is filled toa position in the tube which permits an air pocket (not shown) to be trapped in the upper part of the pouch. For many liquids, syrups and the like it is not necessary to leave an air pocket in the pouch, in which case the flowable material is kept flowing continuously. The small compartment 33 is formed by heat seal 34, using the apparatus described hereinabove (FIG. 2), or similar. The seal 34 is intended to separate the slit 35 from the contents of the pouch to maintain the contents within thepouch until required. The seal 36 surrounding the slit is intended to prevent ingress of material, e.g. water, food, bacteria, from entering andcontaminating the interior of compartment 33.

The slit 35 may be replaced by at least one perforation. The slit is intended as a device for starting a tear and for directing the tear in a preferred direction. It has been found that with the film laminate of the present invention a tear, once initiated by pulling the film on either side of slit 35, travels transversely across the pouch. It has also been found that, invariably the tear stops at the back seam 15. This is advantageous in that the torn seal will not separate from the pouch. The torn portion may provide a convenient "handle" while pouring out the contents of the pouch and therefore may not be inadvertently dropped, or lost. This is an important feature for health reasons, and customer satisfaction.

The term "flowable material" does not include gases but encompasses materials which are flowable under gravity or may be pumped. Such materials include emulsions, e.g. ice cream mix; soft margarine; food dressings; pastes, e.g. meat pastes; peanut butter; preserves, e.g. jams, pie fillings, marmalade; jellies; dough; ground meat, e.g. sausage meat; powders, e.g. gelatin powders; detergents; liquids, e.g. milk; oils; and granular solids, e.g. rice, sugar.

The present invention may be illustrated by reference to the following examples:

EXAMPLE 1

Several oriented films were prepared from a blend of a) 85 wt. % linear ethylene/octene-1 copolymer having a density of 0.919 g/cm³ and a melt index of 0.75 and b) 15 wt. % of an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having 12% vinyl acetate. The blend was first formed into film using a blown film process. Several samples of the film were subsequently machine direction oriented at different draw ratios. Elmendorf tear strengths weremeasured, in the machine and transverse directions, using ASTM Procedure D 1922, and Y was calculated therefrom for each sample of film.

Samples of sealant film were prepared from a blend of 85 wt. % ethylene/octene-1 copolymer and 15 wt. % ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 12%. The sealant film had a density of 0.920 g/cm³. The composition was formed into films, 51 μm, 76 μm, and 102 μm in thickness, using a blown film process.

The oriented films were adhesively laminated to one or two layers of the sealant films, using SERFENE 2015 polyvinylidene chloride adhesive appliedat a coating weight of 6.4 g/m². Peel strengths of the resulting laminates were measured using ASTM Procedure D 1876 and were all greater than 120 g/cm. The film laminates were then nicked at one of the edges andthe laminates were then torn, starting at the nick. Note was taken as to whether the resulting tear was in the transverse direction, the machine direction or not well directed. The results were plotted on a graph which showed Y values for the oriented film against X values for the sealant layers. The results are shown in FIG. 4. From this data, K was estimated to be 0.006 μm⁻¹. The line, K.X=(1-Y) divides the successes from the failures.

EXAMPLE 2

A first film was prepared from a blend of a) 85 wt. % linear ethylene/octene-1 copolymer having a density of 0.919 g/cm³ and a melt index of 0.75 and b) 15 wt. % ethylene homopolymer having a density of 0.918 g/cm³ and a melt index of 7.0 available under the trademark C-I-L 472. The blend was first formed into film using a blown film process.

The film was subsequently machine direction oriented at a draw ratio of 6:1, resulting in a film having a thickness of 28 μm. The temperature of the first orientation roll was held at 90° C. and that of the second orientation roll was held at 90° C. The melting temperature of the first film was 120° C. Elmendorf tear strengths were measured, in the machine and transverse directions, using ASTM Procedure D1922. Percent elongation at break was measured, in the machine direction, using ASTM Procedure D 638.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                                           Machine  Transverse                                          Property          Direction                                                                               Direction                                           ______________________________________                                         Elmendorf Tear g  358      560                                                 % Elongation to break                                                                            25%      920%                                                ______________________________________                                    

A sealant film was prepared from a blend of 85 wt. % ethylene/octene-1 copolymer and 15 wt. % ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 12%. The sealant film had a density of 0.920 g/cm³. The composition was formed into film, 51 μm in thickness, using a blown film process. Elmendorf tear strengths were measured, in themachine and transverse directions, using ASTM Procedure D 1922. The resultsare shown in Table 2,

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Property   Machine Direction                                                                            Transverse Direction                                  ______________________________________                                         Elmendorf Tear g                                                                          435           992                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The first film was adhesively laminated to the sealant film, using LAMAL 408-40 urethane adhesive applied at a coating weight of 2.4 g/m². Thepeel strength of the resulting laminate was measured using ASTM Procedure D1876. Elmendorf tear strength was measured in the machine and transverse directions. The results are shown in Table 3.

The first film was adhesively laminated to two sealant films such that the first film was sandwiched therebetween, using LAMAL 408-40 urethane adhesive applied at a coating weight of 2.4 g/m² at each interface. The peel strength of the resulting laminate was measured using ASTM Procedure D 1876. Elmendorf tear strength was measured in the machine and transverse directions. The results are shown in Table 4.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                           Machine  Transverse                                          Property          Direction                                                                               Direction                                           ______________________________________                                         Elmendorf Tear g   500     640                                                 Peel strength g/cm                                                                               >700                                                         ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                       Machine       Transverse                                         Property      Direction     Direction                                          ______________________________________                                         Elmendorf Tear g                                                                              1600         843                                                Peel strength g/cm                                                                           >700 for each                                                                  layer                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The two-ply laminate ((1-Y)=0.361; X=51) did not have the desirable transverse tear property and does not fall within the scope of the presentapplication, whereas the three-ply laminate ((1-Y)=0.361; X=102) is a transversely tearable laminate within the scope of the present invention. The constant K was determined empirically to be 0.006 μm⁻¹ for thelaminates in this example.

EXAMPLE 3

A first film was prepared from a blend of a) 85 wt. % linear ethylene/octene-1 copolymer having a density of 0.919 g/cm³ and a melt index of 0.75 and b) 15 wt. % of an ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having 12% vinyl acetate. The blend was first formed into film using a blown film process. The film was subsequently machine direction oriented at a draw ratio of 4.92:1, resulting in a film having a thickness of 17 μm. The temperature of the first orientation roll was held at 65° C. and that of the second orientation roll was held at 65° C. The melting temperature of the first film was 120° C.The orientation gap was 1270 μn and the film was annealed at 85°-90° C. after orientation. Elmendorf tear strengths were measured, in the machine and transverse directions, using ASTM Procedure D1922. Percent elongation at break was measured, in the machine direction, using ASTM Procedure D 638. The results were as shown in Table 5.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                           Machine  Transverse                                          Property          Direction                                                                               Direction                                           ______________________________________                                         Elmendorf Tear g  309      406                                                 % Elongation to break                                                                            44%      770%                                                ______________________________________                                    

A sealant film was prepared from a blend of 85 wt. % ethylene/octene-1 copolymer and 15 wt. % ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer having a vinyl acetate content of 12%. The sealant film had a density of 0.920 g/cm³. The composition was formed into film, 51 μm in thickness, using a blown film process.

The first film was adhesively laminated to the sealant film, using SERFENE 2015 polyvinylidene chloride adhesive applied at a coating weight of 6.4 g/m². The peel strength of the resulting laminate was measured using ASTM Procedure D 1876. Elmendorf tear strength was measured in the machineand transverse directions. The results are shown in Table 6.

The first film was adhesively laminated to two sealant films such that the first film was sandwiched therebetween, using SERFENE 2015 polyvinylidene chloride adhesive applied at a coating weight of 6.4 g/m². The peel strength of the resulting laminate was measured using ASTM Procedure D 1876. Elmendorf tear strength was measured in the machine and transverse directions. The results are shown in Table 7.

                  TABLE 6                                                          ______________________________________                                                           Machine  Transverse                                          Property          Direction                                                                               Direction                                           ______________________________________                                         Elmendorf Tear g  353      339                                                 Peel strength g/cm                                                                               155                                                          ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7                                                          ______________________________________                                                           Machine    Transverse                                        Property          Direction  Direction                                         ______________________________________                                         Elmendorf Tear g  481        254                                               Peel strength g/cm                                                                               155 for one                                                                    bond and 135                                                                   for the other                                                ______________________________________                                    

Both the two-ply and the three-ply laminates ((1-Y)=0.24; X=51 and 102 respectively) were easily transversely tearable and fall within the scope of the present invention. The constant K was determined empirically to be 0.006 μm⁻¹ for all of the laminates in this example. 

We claim:
 1. A pouch containing a flowable material, said pouch having transversely sealed ends, having a tear initiation locus adjacent at least one of the transversely sealed ends, said pouch being made with a transversely tearable film laminate, said film laminate comprising a machine direction oriented linear low density polyethylene film, a sealant film laminated onto at least one side of said oriented film, the sealant film having an Elmendorf tear in the machine direction of at least about 2 g/μm, and the selection of said oriented film and said sealant film being made on the basis that:

    KX>(1-Y)

Wherein K is a factor defined as (1-Y/Y_(r)) and empirically determined so as to make the above expression true for laminates which will tear more easily and consistently in the transverse direction than in the machine direction and false for other laminates, said factor depending on the properties of the oriented film and the sealant film, X is the thickness of all layers of sealant film in micrometer, X_(e),uns/r/ is the thickness of all layers of sealant film in micrometers at which there is a change in the tearing property of the laminate from the machine direction to the transverse direction,

    Y=(MD.sub.c)/(TD.sub.c)

MD_(c) is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the machine direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams, and TD_(c) is the Elmendorf tear strength, in the transverse direction, of the oriented film, measured in grams.
 2. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein the oriented film is made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of at least one ethylene/C₄ -C₁₀ α-olefin copolymer having a density of from 0.900 to 0.940 g/cm³ and blends of such copolymer with a second polymer, selected from a homopolymer of ethylene and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate, said second polymer having a density of from 0.910 to 0.940 g/cm³, said blend having up to 70 wt. % of said second polymer.
 3. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein the machine direction oriented linear low density polyethylene film is an ethylene/octene copolymer film.
 4. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein the oriented film has a density of from 0.916 to 0.924 g/cm³.
 5. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein the oriented film has been oriented in the machine direction at a draw ratio of from 1.5 to 6.5.
 6. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the films in the laminate is metallized or coated with a barrier coating.
 7. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein the tear initiation locus is selected from a slit, a perforation, a nick, a thinning in the laminate and a tear tape applied to the laminate.
 8. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein there is a heat-sealed area at or adjacent to one of the transverse seals at a corner of said pouch, said heat-sealed area joining the so-called front and back walls of said pouch and having a slit or perforation therein extending from the free edge of the heat sealed area.
 9. A pouch according to claim 1 wherein there is a small compartment adjacent one of the transverse heat seals, and separated from the portion of the pouch containing the flowable material by a heat seal which joins the so-called front and back walls of said pouch, said compartment having therein a slit or perforation substantially parallel to said transverse heat seal. 